Automatic bobbin winder including positionable traverse mechanism



Dec. 5, 1961 w. D. SCHOLTEN 3,

AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDER INCLUDING POSITIONABLE TRAVERSE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24, 1959 6 SheetsSheet l I72 A70 I75 70 63 62 73 as 57 56 55 37 4p 1 23 mu W I 24 W44 IIHLLLTEII. l6l H 2 l4 I4 45 I I! l 4 1 I l" U M 1' 32 I 8' I l r" lllll I lil 5 a 27 =l: [l'" II! I "I 1 ll 1 FIG-l INVENTOR.

WILLIAM D. SCHOLTEN 1% mum ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 w. D. SCHOLTEN 3,011,729

AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDER INCLUDING POSITIONABLE TRAVERSE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1k. I I60 9 1 I 1i L /-50 l 5? 55 f a; 1 i y I6! I60 f 1 I59 I l |eo- I leg /I63 Ac I60 b FIG-*2 d C 26 M 3 INVENTOR.

p O 6 1|" BYWILLIAM 0. SCHOLTEN I A TORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 w. D. SCHOLTEN 3,011,729

AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDER mcwnmc POSITIONABLE TRAVERSE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24, 1959 1 I l lm n2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM D. SCHOLTEN ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 w. D. SCHOLTEN 3,011,729 AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDER INCLUDING POSITIONABLE TRAVERSE MECHANISM Filed Sept. 24, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG-6 FIG-5 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM D. SCHOLTEN BY W mew-1 ATTORNEYS w. D. SCHOLTEN 3,011,729 AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDER INCLUDING POSITIONABLE TRAVERSE MECHANISM Dec. '5, 1961 Filed Sept. 24, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BY WILLIAM D. SCHOLTEN ATTORNEYS FIG-8 Dec. 5, 1961 w. D. SCHOLTEN 3,011,729 AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDER INCLUDING POSITIONABLE TRAVERSE MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 24, 1959 INVENTOR. WILLIAM o. SCHOLTEN BY IMM tTulm;

FIG-9 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,011,729 7 AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDER INCLUDING POSITIONABLE TRAVERSE MECHANISM William D. Scholten, Wabash, Ind., assignor to Deluxe Coils, Inc., Wabash, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Sept. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 842,083 8 Claims. (Cl. 242-9) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus and methods for .the winding of coils on an automatic basis. v

In the winding 'of coils on an automatic basis and as described in these-pending application of Lewis Dean Dumbauld, Serial No. 739,886, filed June 4, 1958, now Patent No. 2,986,352, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, a wire guide directs the wire from a source of supply to the bobbin on which the winding is to be effected. The source of supply rotates, as does the wire guide, in fixed relation with the bobbin; also the wire guide traverses the bobbin to provide for uniform build-up of wire over the bobbin length. It is important that the guide be accurately positioned with relation to the bobbin at the start of a winding; in the practice of this invention means are provided to cause the wire guide to return to position after completion of the winding of a bobbin.

In conjunction with the positioning of the wire guide several other allied functions are automatically performed. First it is to be noted that as in the application of Lewis Dean Dumbauld, referred to hereinbefore, the basic winding steps include (a) the positioning of the bobbin; (b) the winding; (0) the termination of winding at a predetermined number of turns; (d) .the waxing of the wound turns to inhibit their separation; and (e) the cutting of the finish wire. These steps are included in the present invention; however, immediately after the cutting of the finish wire the shaft carrying the wire guide is freed for movement and is repositioned to a starting point for the-guide. This is accomplished automatically as the guide rotates with the other mechanism.

In the practice of the invention the guide is'traversed reciprocably by a carriage which reciprocates and carries the guide shaft with it; the carriage is reciprocated by means of a swivellable wheel engaging a driving shaft angularly. In one wheel direction, the wheel acting much like a screw, causes the carriageto be driven in one rectilineal direction with the guide shaft; at the terminus of this movement the wheel position is reversed and the carriage and guide shaft move in an opposite direction. For driving of the carriage the wheel is biased into contact with the shaft by air pressure in accordance with the structure of invention. Further this air pressure is released automatically for repositioning of the guide in accordance with the invention.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein: 7

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view with parts broken away indicating the organizational arrangement of a structure incorporating the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view with parts removed indicating stations at which operations involved in automatic coil winding take place;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation particularly indicating the structure for effecting a re-set operation for a wire guide;

FIGURE 4 is a left side elevational view of a winding head which incorporates the wire guide;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the winding head of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a right side elevational view of the struc ture of FIGURES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view in plan of a traverse mechanism which cooperates with the wire guide of FIG- URE 5 and which is illustrated in FIGURE 6 also;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view with parts removed of the structure of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken on line 9--9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a view taken on line 1010 of FIGURE 8, particularly illustrating the swivellable drive shaft engaging wheel;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view illustrating the reset mechanism for the wire guide of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 12 is a schematic view illustrating the com ponents for directing air flow from the main and rotary valve to the diaphragm controlling positioning of the guide.

The principal components of the structure include an annular mounting plate which is rotatable about a fixed axis; this annular mounting plate supports on its periphery a plurality of winding heads, one of which is specifically illustrated in the drawings. Each winding-head includes means to support a bobbin on which a coil is to be wound, and a reciprocable wire guide for directing material to be wound to the bobbin.

.The winding heads are driven independently but from a common drive source. Rotatable with the annular mounting plate and supported above the plate is a deck which mounts a plurality of sources of supply of wire, one for each winding head, and one of which is illustrated in the drawings. Wire der'eeled from a source of supply passes over a reciprocable guide to a bobbin on which the coil is to be wound.

. Indexing means are provided on the annular mounting plate to cooperate with mechanism positioned in the path of movement of the plate for eifecting various operations, such as automatic starting'of one winding head spindle independently of the others; cutting of the finish'wire from the source of supply at the termination of the winding operation, which termination is itself automatically effected through a suitable counter; waxing of the completed bobbin prior to cutting of the finish wire; resetting of the wire guide to an initial position after termination of the winding of the coil. I Referring now to the drawings more in detail, th numeral 1 in FIGURE 1 designates frame supports which extend in a vertical direction, while the numeral 2 designates transversely extending supports suitably welded or otherwise secured to the vertically extending supports to form a frame. A protective casing designated at 3 extends vertically over the supports 1 and 2, and is itself provided with an upper shorter peripherally extending cash1g4.

Mounted on the supports as thus described is a peripherally extending angle iron 5 mounting a plurality of brackets 7 and 8 in staggered spaced relation and one of each of which is illustrated in FIGURE 1. Bracket 7 rotatably supports a roller 9 having a vertical axis, and which roller 9 engages the internal periphery of a pulley-like member 11. Each bracket 3 rotatably supports a roller 10 having a horizontally disposed axis and which roller 10 supports the pulley-like'mernoer 11 for rotation. i

Secured to the pulleyike member 11 and rotatable therewith is an annular mounting plate 12. For effecting driving of the member 11 and the annular'mounting plate 12 there is provided a timer belt 13 which passes over a plurality of pulleys 14 supported by bearings liand shown more clearly in FIGURE 2. A suitable electric motor 17 through a chain 18 an its associated sprockets drives a shaft 19 supported by bearings 20, 21, and the upper end of which shaft carries ported in the bearing housing 27, a support 23 providing for mounting of the shaft and its drive components on the structure.

I To effect the driving of the shaft 24 there is provided motor 29, the position of which may be suitably adjusted,

as indicated in FIGUREI, in a well known manner, the.

driving being achieved through a chain and sprocket-system indicated at 30. V

The annular mounting plate 12, through hold-downs designated at 32 in FIGURE 1, retains on the plate periphery for rotation with the plate, a plurality of winding units designated at 33.

'Referring now to FIGURE 4 for a specific description of the winding unit, it is to be noted that each unit 33 includes a base plate 34, upstanding integral opposed flanges 36, and each winding unit is provided with a pivot 35 which extends vertically relative to the annular mounting plate for pivotal movement of the winding unit on the plate. This is to provide for the change of position of the winding unit as the unit rotates in a closed path about the defined by the shaft 24, and which axis isjeccentric to the axis of rotation of the annular mounting plate,

as may be clearly seen from FIGURE 2.

Referring now again to FIGURE 4, a horizontal pivot 37 is provided by a shaft journaled in the upper ends' of the oppo'sedfianges 36. Supported on the horizontal pivot shaft 37 is a horizontally extending plate 38 bifurcated to provide for passage of the shaft 37 (FIG. 6), and itself supporting the major components of the winding unit. i For the sakeof'convenience the forward portion of plate 38 will be designated 38a.

While in some instances it is convenient to provide ,-fr pivoting of the. plate 38 and its components to be described hereinafter, in the present instance such pivotal movement is prevented by the provision of a rigid shaft 39 extending between plate 34 and plate portion 380,

as shown most clearly in FIGURES 4 and 6.

The numeral 40 designates a counter mounted atop the plate 38 and which counter is itself of standard construction, commercially available, and serves to indicate the rotations and number of turns made by the winding head spindle. This counter, upon completion of a predetermined number of turns for which it may be set, is

eflective to pass an electrical signal, as will be noted more particularly hereinafter, to cause cessation of the bobbin winding.

A similar structural arrangement is described in connection with the co-pending application of Lewis Dean Dumbauld, Serial No. 739,886, referred to hereinbefore.

Integral with the plate 34 is a housing 41 for a torque tube 42, within which there is slidably received a shaft 43 (FIGURE 1) secured by a link 44 to the shaft 24 for rotation about the shaft. Thus the torque tube serves to guide the winding unit in a closed path as the winding unit oscillates'on the pivot 35. As will be noted in FIGURE 1 a plurality of collars 45 rotatably mounted. about the shaft 24 serve to connect the winding units for upwardly. Casting 54 receives a rigid tube 55 through which there passes a 'rotatabletshaft 56, the inward end of which carries a wheel 57 secured to the shaft 56 for rotation therewith. The remote or outer end of the shaft '56 is secured to a flexible coupling 58 in the form of 'a rubber sleeve, and is thereby united with a shaft 59, which serves to mount a bobbin 60 (FIG. 3).

As will be noted, particularly from FIGURES 3 and 4, upward motion of the follower 53 occasioned by actuation of the solenoid 48 causes the wheel 57 to be lifted upwardly, thereby removing driving power from the shaft 59 which carries the bobbin 60. Solenoid 48 is actuated when the counter reaches its predetermined number of revolutions, and; the counter thus effectively controls the quantity of wire appliedtothe bobbin.

In connection with the counter, it is to bejnoted that this is supported in an upright position by bolts passing through a fiange 62 of the counter to an upright plate 63, which itself carries a boss 64 (FIGURE 3) and rotatably receives the shaft 37. The counter is driven in a conventional manner by a timer belt 66 passing over pulleys 65, 67. A re-set' lever 68 pivotedat 69 through vertically extending'rods 70 serves to release the armature of the solenoid 49 and to thereby provide for both re-setting of the counter and for lowering of the drive wheel 57 on to the driving disc 23.

Supported by plate 38 is a frame:72 of generally U-shape having upstanding side members 73, 74, as most clearly shown in FIGURE 6. An electric switch box is designated at 75 and is supported from the plate 38 therebelow. The numeral 76 designates a main shaft journaled in the side members 73, 74 and driven. through a timer belt 77 passing over sprockets78, 79, the latter of which is provided on the'same shaft as the sprocket 67 of the counter.

The numeral 86 designates generally a carriage which is reciprocated by rotation of the shaft 76, the mechanism for effecting such rotation is most clearly illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10. 'As shown in these figures a wheel 80 mounted on a short shaft 81 secured between up-standing arms 82 of a swivellable depending member 83, is arranged for contact with the shaft 76. The member 83 pivots at 84 to provide the wheel 80 and accordingly the member 83 in an angular relationship to the shaft 76, whereby when'the wheel 80 is driven the carriage 86 moves in a manner determined by the ithe screw 90 threads into a casing portion 91, the shank of the. screw entering slot 92.

The depth to which the conical end of the screw 90 enters the slot 92 determines the extent to which the member 83 may move about the .pivot 84.

A graduated index plate 93 associated with the screw 90 provides for visual regulation of the screw 90. The index plate 93 is itself retained by screw 94 passing through the index plate and the member 91. The screw 90 traverses plate 95 (FIGURE 9) which mounts a bearing 96, and which bearing journals slidably a member 97. This member 97 'at 98 abuts the member 83 and is adapted to urge the member 83 and consequently the wheel80 towards the shaft 76. p

For the purpose of so urging the wheel 80 an air inlet port 99 communicates with a diaphragm 100, retained in a mounting bracket 101 which is apertured to receive a mechanism 102, which supports the diaphragm and which itself carries abutment 103 for engagement with the member 97. Accordingly it will be seen from FIG- URE 9 that the application of air pressure to the port 99 provides for causingthe wheel 80 to engage the shaft 76- securely. Also, release of such air pressure will permit movement of the wheel 80 on the member 83 relative to the shaft 76, whereby the angularity of the shaft 81 relative to the shaft 76 may be altered, so that the carriage 86 is driven reciprocably.

A plate 165 is urged from side to side to affect the angle change between shafts 81 and 76 by moving the member 83 pivotally. For this purpose the plate 105 is retained by bolts 186 on the member 83 for movement with the member 83' and itself terminates, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 5, in a l-shape. Rearwardly the plate mounts a pin 197 which carries one end of a spring 108, the other end of which is retained by a pin 10% mounted above a cam element 118 on arm 111. Arm 111 is pivoted at 112 so that the cam 11%) may ride over the apex of the V of the plate 185, as most clearly indicated in FIGURES -10, inclusive. The spring 198 biases the cam element 110 in the direction of pin 18'? and movement of shaft 112 from the FIGURE 7 position toward the FIGURE 5 position moves the cam element 11% as indicated, thereby urging the plate 185 from one side to the other and also therefore tilting the member 83 from one direction to the other to change the angle between the shafts 81 and 76. The shaft 112 (FIGURES 7 and 8) is pinned at 113; a guide arm 115, which is itself pivoted at 116 to a member 117, engages abutment 135 in the leftward travel of the carriage, causes the shaft 112 and cam 110 to be urged rightwardly relative to the carriage to reverse the angular relation between shafts 81 and 76. The carriage itself then reverses, moves rightwardly, and shaft 112 engages abutment 142, which urges the shaft leftwardly against the motion of the carriage, thereby again reversing the angular relation of the shafts 81 ad 76 and thus also reversing the carriage. Member 117 is itself supported at 118 by pin 119, the portion 118 being integral with one of the arms 129 of the carriage 86.

As will be noted from FIGURE 7 the arms 120 are secured by nuts 121 to the carriage 122. The arms 120 are ciosed by a plate portion 123 joining the arms 120 to form a yoke; integral with the arms 120 are collars 124 for receipt of a shaft 130, which shaft is reciprocable with the arms and carriage and with the collars 132 which.

abut the arms.

The shaft 139 thus passes clearly through the side arms 73, 7d of the winding unit in the course of its reciprocation.

Guides 134 (FIGURE 5) receive the extremities of the guide member 115 and the guides carry abutment 135 positioned to be engaged by the guide member 115. Abutment of one end of the member 115 with the guide 135 tends to efiect quick return movement of the shaft 112 as the carriage moves in a leftwardly direction (FIGURE 5), thereby reversing the angularity of the wheel 80 and causing the carriage to be traversed in a rightwardly direction (FIGURE 5). Thus provision is made for the reciprocation of the shaft 130.

A wire guide member 136 is carried on a depending arm 137 which is supported by a collar 138 carried on the shaft 138. Accordingly the guide member 136 (FIGURE 6) reciprocates with the shaft 130. Positioning of the guide member 136 is effected by providing for adjustable securing of the collar 138 on the shaft 130. Further, as may be noted from FIGURE 5, considerable traverse is readily achieved.

Carried on the outermost portion of the shaft 130 is a supporting member 139 for a cam 140 (FIGURE 3). This cam 149 extends well above the reciprocable guide 136. The reciprocable motion of cam 140 with shaft 130 is limited by carriage 86 movement and accordingly in one direction by the engagement of the shaft 112 with fixed abutment 142 carried in an upstanding frame member 73 and to which reference has been made hereinbefore. Since cam 14% is carried on shaft 130 it moves with shaft 131 whether shaft 130 is driven with the carriage 86 by the shaft 75 or whether the shaft 130 and carriage 86 are independent of the drive shaft 76 as noted hereinafter.

In effect, the abutment of the shaft 112 between the extreme positions designated at 142 rightwardly in FIG- wheel to reverse its angularity quickly, and the wheel,

, functioning in the manner of a screw, is driven oppositely by the continuous rotation of the shaft 76 to oscillate the carriage 86.

The reversal arrangement affected by the combination of wheel and shaft is known prior to this invention; a particular feature of this invention, however, is the mode of pressuring the wheel against the shaft and of readily releasing the pressure to provide for movement of the guidecarrying shaft independently of the wheel.

The cam mounted as shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 11 and carried by the winding unit in the course of travel of the mounting plate engages a cam surface on an arm 144 (FIGURES 3 and 11), and which arm is retained in a bias position by the combination of pin 145, spring 146 and pin 1 .7. The arm 144 is pivoted relative to the fixed arm 148 of a bracket 149, itself secured to the frame of the structure at 150 in FIGURE 3. In normal operation arm 144 is sufficiently rigidly retained by the biasing spring that no movement of the spring occurs. Accordingly the cam surface of arm 144 biases the cam 140 and with it the shaft 130 and carriage 86 to position when these components are free for movement.

Freeing shaft 130 and carriage 86 for movement independently is accomplished as now described. A vertical support 151 extends upwardly from arm 148 and itself carries a cam plate 152. Roller 153 on the extremity of the valve actuating arm 154 is biased by contact with cam plate 152 to close the air valve 156 (FIGURE 11). Air valve 156 is 3-way, solenoid operated, and normally open, so that air pressure may be applied between the wheel 80 and shaft 76 (FIGURE 9). For this purpose air conduit 157 (FIGURES 5, 6, 11 and 12) communicates the air valve with the port 92 (FIGURE 9) and air diaphragm 100. Hence valve 156 functions as a control valve.

Accordingly, when the valve 156 is open air pressure entering through port 99 normally forces the wheel 80 into contact with the shaft 76. However, when the roller 153 is engaged at 152 the solenoid operated air valve at 156 is biased closed, cutting oil the air supply to the port 99, causing withdrawal of the wheel Stifrom the shaft 76 sutficiently for the shaft 130 and carrier 86 to be free for movement. The air exerting pressure on the diaphragm is then exhausted through the 3-way valve 156 to permit carrier movement (FIGURE 12).

Accordingly, when the air is shut off from the port 99 the shaft 130 which carries the wire guide traverse is movable. Return of the shaft 130 to an initial and predetermined position is eflected with movement'of cam roller 140 along the element at 144. After the wire guide traverse 136 is returned to starting position, cam roller 153 disengages at 152, restoring air pressure to the wheel 80, and inhibiting further movement of the shaft 130; that is, inhibiting furthermovement of shaft 130 and carriage 86 independent of driving shaft.76. 7

As will be seen from FIGURE 2, in the course of traverse of the winding head unit 33 with the annular mounting plate 12, and with the unit being driven from the common drive source at 23, a plurality of stations are passed, at which operations take place automatically. For the purpose of effecting these automatic operations there is provided a plurality of index elements 160 which are bolted to the mounting plate 12 and project therefrom.

Referring first to the index member 166a, and with the annular mounting plate traversing in the manner indicated by the arrow (FIGURE 2), the operator to start an operation places a bobbin 161 on the shaft 159, which are similar to bobbin 60 and shaft 59 of FIGURE 4. At this time the wheel 57 is raised and held in raised position by the solenoid at 48. However, as the annular mounting plate rotates, the release trip mechanism 68 for the counter passes beneath an arm extending from an air cylinder indicated at 163, having a solenoid 162, actuated through the engagement of a micro-switch 164 with an index member at i (FIGURE 2). It will be understood that the air cylinder 163 could suitably .tions of index members.

With the arm "of air cylinder .163 engaging the trip 68,1the' counter set at its. starting point, and the wheel 57 engaging the table 23, the winding unit is driven therebythrough the eccentric relationship between the annular mounting plate rotation and the rotation of the disc 23. The strand of wire 178 has an extremity thereof secured to the bobbin by the operator and as the bobbin rotates it draws wire from the supply 177 mounted on spindle 176. The wheel 57 will gradually increase in speed to a maximum and then decrease in speed before being brought to a halt by the operation of the counter and solenoid 48, the electric signal output of the-counter being connected in known manner with solenoid 48 for this purpose.

.It Will'be understood that at the position of 16042,

designated in FIGURE 2, the traverse guide 136 is in a position for initiation of the Winding operation; the guide will then traverse in a reciprocable manner to provide timer belt 77 and sprocket 67 of the countenj As the annular mounting plate rotates the bobbin 161 achieves its full winding length, and at some position, as at g," in FIGURE 2, the winding will be terminated by bringing the Wheel 57 into a raised position. Wheel 57 is raised, as noted above, when the counter reaches its preset condition and signals the actuation of the solenoid 48. While the winding of the wire of the coil is thus terminated, the annular mounting plate 12 with the winding unit thereon continues to rotate. Also the traverse guide 136 is now usually in some position other than the noted position for the initiation of a new winding, and must be restored to the start position as noted hereinbefore.

The coil of wire on the bobbin will first however be subjected to a' plurality of operations before guide positioning, the first operation of which involves the application of wax at station'WP to the outer turns of the bobbin to retain the turns together. This is followed bythe cutting at WC of the wire length which extends from the source of supply. Promptly after the cutting of the wire the air pressure is removed when roller 153 engages against the surface 152, as already described; the guide 136 carried on the shaft 130, which shaft is now independently movable of drive shaft 76 is returned to its initial position by the action of the cam 140 which engages surface 144 and is abutted thereby to the winding starting position. The plate 12, of course, continues to rotate.

V In the present instance guide positioning is followed by the removal, after the reapplication of air pressure by the passage of roller 153 from the surface 152, of the completed bobbin and the substitution of an empty bobbin. The first automatic operation for winding on the empty bobbin is then the actuation of the air cylinder at 163, to reset the counter, and initiate the winding of a new bobbin by lowering of the wheel 57 and attaching the wire to the bobbin to be wound.

As may be most clearly seen from FIGURE 2 the application of the wax is effected at the station designated by the letters WP and is controlled by the closure of an air valve 166 at station It as the valve is controlled by the indexing means of that station.

The annular mounting plate 12 has secured thereto vertically projecting stanchions 170, which themselves support a deck 155. The deck 155 is centrally provlded with a housing 171 and a terminal box 171a through which electric connections are made with an armature (not shown) for supplying power to the electrical components of the rotating table. Since such electrical connections are well known they are not illustrated. The air flow system, however, includes the'inlet conduit 174 to be actuated from other posithe rotary valvei75 which feeds line 172; a plurality of lines 172. (not shown), one for each winding head, normally communicates. with rotary .valve 174. The air "flow path components are clearly indicated in FIGURE 12.

Thewire as it is pulled from the source by the rotating bobbin 161 passes as a strand 178 over a guide 179 and brake pulley 186 (FIGURE 1). The strands 173 in the course of the operations. is cut when the bobbin has been completed in themanner already described.

It is to be particularly noted that the cam 140 carried by each winding unit effectively repositions the guide pulley 136 (FIGURE3) after the termination of each winding and after air pressure has been removed from the traverse; the cam 153 controls the removalof the air pressure and'its reapplication when the guide pulley is positioned as described. This eliminates manual repositioning, occasions more positive repositioning and speeds the entire operation.

. It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In traverse guide rod mechanism in automatic coil winding apparatus in which a traverse guide reciprocates relative to a bobbin on which material is' to be wound, the combination of cooperable driving and driven elements, fluid pressure means including a diaphragm for urging the driven element into engagement with the driving element, a traverse guide rod connected with said driven element and itself having a traverse guide thereon, said driven element being reciprocable and whereby said traverse guide and guide rod are driven in reciprocation, means mounting the traverse guide rod mechanism for rotation in a closed path, cooperable means engageable in said rotation to prevent the application of fluid pressure to said diaphragm whereby said driven element, traverse guide rod and guide are free for movement relative to said drive element, and means also in the closed path engageable to position the guide rod by abutting the guide rod mechanism.

2. Inautomatic coil winding apparatus in which a traverse guide for a strand of material to be wound traverses a bobbin on which the material is to be Wound, positioning mechanism for the traverse guide comprising a frame, a drive shaft for mounting a bobbin rotatably supported by. the frame and projecting therefrom, a traverse guide rod slidably supported by the frame projectving adjacent said drive shaft, a guide on the traverse guide rod, means for reciprocating said traverse guide rod including cooperable driving and driven elements, the driven element of which is connected to said traverse guide rod for reciprocating the said guide rod thereby limiting guide rod movement when the driving and driven elements are pressurably engaged, fluid pressure means including a diaphragm cooperable with said driven element for urging the driven element into pressured engagement with said driving element and a supply line for supplying fluid pressure to said diaphragm, a mounting plate supported for rotation in a closed path and carrying said frame, first means to prevent fluid pressure flow to said diaphragm, 'means fixed in the closed path of said mounting plate to actuate thesaid first means,

sive movement of said guide and traverse guide rod.

4. In automatic coil winding apparatus in which a traverse guide for a strand of material to be wound traverses a bobbin on which the material is to be Wound, positioning mechanism for the traverse guide comprising a frame, a drive shaft for mounting a bobbin rotatably supported by the frame and projecting therefrom, a traverse guide rod slidably supported by the frame projecting adjacent said drive shaft, a guide on the traverse guide rod, means for reciprocating said traverse guide rod including cooperable driving and driven elements, the driven element of which is connected to said traverse guide rod for reciprocating the said guide rod thereby limiting guide rod movement when the driving and driven elements are pressurably engaged, fluid pressure means including a diaphragm cooperable with said driven element for urging the driven element into pressured engagement with said driving element, a mounting plate supported for rotation in a closed path and carrying said frame, an air line for supplying air to said diaphragm, a valve in said air line and normally open to supply air to the diaphragm, an actuator connected with said valve to close the valve, a first cam plate fixed in the path of the mounting plate engageable with the actuator for closing said valve, a second cam plate, a cam roller on the said guide rod engageable with said second cam plate, said cam plates being so arranged that said cam roller engages said second cam plate only when said first cam plate is engaged by said actuator.

5. Coil winding apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and in which said first cam plate is disposed vertically above said second cam plate and extends beyond said second earn plate in both directions in the path of rotation of the mounting plate.

6. In automatic coil winding apparatus, a mounting plate rotatable in a closed path, rotary winding means on the said mounting plate and having a winding shaft and a guide rod including a guide which reciprocates relative to the shaft, index means on the mounting plate and mechanism in the path of the plate cooperable with the index means for initiating and terminating a winding operation, drive means of the rotary winding means for reciprocat'n said traverse guide rod and comprising driving and driven elements, the latter of which is secured to said guide rod for reciprocation therewith, fluid pressure means of the rotary winding means for urging said driving and driven elements into engagement, means in the closed path for maintaining said fiuid pressure means inoperative over a portion of the closed path and arranged to be actuated after the termination of said winding operation, and other means in the closed path adjacent said latter means for abutment with said guide rod when said fluid pressure means is inoperative.

7. In resetting apparatus for a traverse guide rod and a guide carried thereon, the combination of a reciprocable carriage and means to cause reciprocable traverse of the guide red by said carriage and which means includes a fluid pressure actuated diaphragm and transmission means between and operatively connected with said diaphragm and said carriage for translating actuation of said diaphragm into reciprocation of said carriage, a first cam carried by the traverse guide rod, a winding head supporting said traverse guide rod and said means to cause said traverse, a rotary mounting plate supporting said winding head for rotation in a closed path, a first cam plate in the path of said first cam for abutment with the cam to urge said cam and traverse guide rod to an initial position, and means to prevent the application of fluid pressure to said diaphragm to break said driving connection to thereby release said traverse guide rod for independent movement, said means including a second cam and cam plate and a fluid pressure control valve actuated by said second cam to prevent application of fluid pressure to said diaphragm, said second cam plate being in vertical relation to and projecting beyond said first cam plate in the path of the mounting plate.

8. In automatic coil winding apparatus, in combination, a mounting plate rotatable in a closed path, a winding head on the periphery of said mounting plate, said winding head including a traverse guide rod having a guide thereon and projecting from the Winding head, a rotatable winding shaft projecting from the winding head arranged in proximity to said guide and adapted to retain a bobbin to be traversed by said guide, means to drive said guide rod in reciprocation to effect the traverse, said means including driving and driven elements, the latter of which is secured to said guide rod for reciprocation therewith, fluid pressure means for urging said driving and driven elements into engagement, a rotary valve on said mounting plate for supplying fluid pressure, a norreally open control valve communicating said rotary valve with said fiuid pressure means and whereby said driving and driven elements are maintained in engagement, said control valve being rotatable with the mounting plate and winding head in the closed path, an actuator in the form of a first cam roller connected to close said control valve when actuated, a first cam plate in the path of the mounting plate and said first cam roller for actuating said cam roller to thereby close said control valve to prevent application of fluid pressure to said driving and driven elements, a second cam plate in vertical relation with the first cam plate and in the path of said mounting plate, a second cam roller on said guide rod engageable with said second cam plate, said second cam plate having a contour to urge said guide rod to an initial position, said first cam plate having a length such that said first cam roller engages said first cam plate until said second cam roller disengages from said second cam plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,539,667 1 King Jan. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 580,890 Canada Aug. 4, 1959 

